Empire's Son: An Epic Science Fiction Novel Series

Markus didn’t resist when they came for him. He walked right into the Trainee Depot, knowing full well an assault team would be waiting. As soon as he stepped into the entrance, Markus found himself at the business end of eight rifles and deadly intentions.

He handed over his blast-pistol and stun baton, allowed them to pat him down, and fully cooperated when the eight Pledges marched him through the streets to the administration complex. Every Cadet, Disciple, and Pledge they passed looked on with curiosity. Some who recognized Markus and shook their heads, some smirked, while others that were newer, looked puzzled to see someone in a Pledge uniform being surrounded by one of the College’s advanced security team. But it wasn’t until he was in the corridors of Command, that he started getting the nasty looks. Yeah, they remembered him well.

Markus had managed to catch a quick glimpse of Gayle back at the Depot, but once they had Markus in custody, she was sent on her way. They both were careful not to look at each other in case they gave away anything. He felt a twinge of guilt.

Once the truth came out––all the way out––that she had been in collusion with Markus all along, things would be bad for her. His hope was that once Command saw that there was a traitor in their midst that they would be more understanding of why Markus was doing what he was doing. But he wasn’t going to hold his breath. They’d probably revoke his membership and possibly Gayle’s too.

Markus didn’t mind, but he knew she would, so he was prepared to do all he could to keep that from happening, even groveling to his father if necessary. But that wasn’t something he needed to worry about right now. There were more pressing concerns that needed his attention. Like the interrogation room he had been sitting in for the last twenty minutes.

He knew the drill. They’d leave him in here a while to sweat, and then come in demanding answers. Once upon a time, Markus’s special assignments while in the Program had been almost entirely operating as an interrogator for the College. Not that the compound saw much crime, except for the occasional assault and a very rare murder. But Markus was a natural born interrogator because of his Dome-ni’s ability to hear the truth when someone spoke it, and Command had wanted to put it to good use.

“It must be strange sitting on the other side of the table,” Captain Dexter couldn’t help but point out as he entered the room and took a seat across from Markus. “I had just gotten to the College when that mess you caused two years ago came about, so I wasn’t in the loop of why you left the College. But the Commander filled me earlier. I have to say that I’m surprised you came back.”

Markus shrugged. There wasn’t much else he could do. They still had his hands bound behind his back, which was standard operating procedure in case the accused decided to get a little frisky.

“Jordem called me back.”

“That’s Chief Commander Jordem to you Pledge.” Dexter replied in a cutting tone, reminding Markus of his place as a lowly Pledge, and probably not that for much longer either.

A moment passed as the Captain let that sit there for a moment, and then he continued in a more natural voice like he wanted to just have a normal conversation. Again, standard operating procedure. Put the detainee at ease so they might slip and say more than intended.

“The Commander did call you back to the College after your father presented some disturbing information to us about Captain Hame and Prince Zorren Zahn, but I figure you would know all about that, don’t you?”

Dexter paused a moment as if confirming that Markus was, in fact, in the know about the very probable collusion between the Hame and Zorren. Of course Markus knew, and Dexter knew that he knew. The Captain was just trying to gain a rapport, which had never been Markus’s preferred choice to getting a detainee to cooperate. Really, Dexter could do better. And Markus’s response was not to respond at all.

The Captain let the pause last only a few moments before he moved on to his next attempt. “I have to tell you that the Commander wasn’t keen on the idea of asking you back here, especially in any official capacity. But you graduated with some of the highest test scores in recent history of the College, you have a personal history with Prince Adar, and not to mention a good working knowledge of Prince Zorren and how he might respond to his brother’s return.

“It seemed like a good decision to bring you back here to at least act as a silent shadow until we could get the Heir bonded to a new Protector. I figured a smart man would appreciate the second chance he’d been given. That he’d check in, and get his official orders before taking any action on College grounds, and in doing so, let Command know that you really are a team player and can act within the chain of command.”

Markus had to appreciate Dexter spinning it like he really was the good guy in all this, and even implying that he had been the one to suggest giving Markus a second chance. Nice try. Again, Markus responded with silence.

After a pregnant pause, Dexter snorted and shook his head like he was deeply disappointed. “Guess you aren’t as smart as I thought you were, Nador. Just a simple check in would have been a great start to putting you back in Command’s good graces. I have to wonder. Did you have a legitimate reason for not checking in, or do you just like pissing everyone off?”

Again, the silence sat between them as Markus carefully eyed the Captain, while his senses tingled like he’d just been hit by a stun baton on its lowest setting. Well, yavit. Markus hadn’t been expecting this. Dexter was being sincere in what he had been saying. And if that was the case, then that implied the man actually liked Markus.

Curious, because as far as Markus knew, this was the first time he’d ever met Dexter. Markus disregarded the Captain’s question and decide to ask one of his own. He knew he was breaking his silent war. It was one of the strongest weapons a person sitting on this side of the table had. But Markus figured his next question was worth the risk, and might even be a weapon he could use against his interrogator.

“What did I ever do to earn your admiration?”

The Captain blinked in surprise. He then sat back with a resigned sigh and mouth twisted up in a half frown like a deep secret of his had just been laid bare for the whole universe to see, which signaled a resounding victory to Markus. He’d played his hand well. This man had obviously never personally encountered a person wielding the Verity Dome-ni before.

After a moment of contemplation, Dexter spoke. “When I had heard that the eldest son and chosen Heir of King Rainus Nador had come to the College to be a part of the Program, I laughed. I didn’t believe the person who told me. I thought he was trying to pull one over on me. But then, other people told me the same thing.

“I even called one of my buddies who was still here at the College to confirm. He said it was true. And even then, I couldn’t quite comprehend it. And I wondered. Was this your way of having a good laugh? Did you enter the Program to disrespect those that protected your kind? Or was this more about a spoiled prince who had everything, but wanted something he couldn’t have?

“I decided to keep tabs on your progress, and it quickly became clear that you here because you wanted to be. You broke quite a few of the long standing records at the College and topped almost every class you took. I had to admit that I started to have great respect for you and what you were doing, even if many others didn’t.

“And then my charge died of old age, and my retirement coincided with the College needing a new lead trainer for the Program, and I decided to take them up on their offer instead of bonding with a new charge. So I came back here to find the entire College in an uproar, and you at the center of it all.

“Command was tight-lipped about what happened back then, but it was clear you had done something to anger them. Something big that caused you to leave. And now that I finally know, well, let’s just say, I’m very disappointed. I expected better of you, Nador. You had the potential to be a Legacy one day.”

Markus smirked at the other man. “I have a fan. That’s adorable.”

Dexter grimaced. He didn’t appear happy that he’d lost control of the interrogation. “Laugh if you want, Nador, but I don’t think you understand how bad things can get for you. Command took you off the active list when you left the College, now they are discussing expulsion of your membership. But then, the College is going to be the least of your concerns. I hear the Emperor isn’t very forgiving to those who do his Heir harm.”

Markus scoffed at the Captains words, but he felt a twinge deep down just the same. Ghar Zahn was a problem he’d simply have to deal with later if it came to that. In the meantime, Markus would make it clear to all that his intention was only the protection of Adar, and if anyone believed otherwise, they were complete fools. Didn’t these morons not understand the concept of motivation? “I haven’t done any harm to Adar. Just the opposite actually.”

Dexter nodded as if they were finally in agreement with one another. It also meant that Dexter already believed that Markus hadn’t abducted Adar to harm him. That was good at least. “Then tell us where he is, so we can protect him.”

Markus snorted. Just because they agreed on Markus’s agenda didn’t mean that Markus trusted Dexter’s. “Like you protected him three nights ago? Or how about when you assigned Pledge Gunther to shadow Adar when you were warned that he would be a problem because of his ties with Kaller Hame. Or let’s talk about that quat-lo assessment and Master Meh-len’s use of the Hand of Death on the Prince. No, I think Adar is much better off where I put him.”

The more Markus had spoken, the longer the frown on Dexter’s face became. After Markus had finished, Dexter cleared his throat and spoke, and Markus couldn’t help but feel a distinct smugness that this interrogation had now become more Markus’s than Dexter’s.

“I admit that we have had some unfortunate events since the Heir’s arrival here. And for your information, Pledge Gunther was questioned extensively about his connection with Captain Hame and his intentions to towards the Heir. It became clear that he had no hard feelings toward Prince Adar and welcomed the chance to be his Protector.”

Markus shook his head, not quite believing what he was hearing. There were plenty of other Pledges who were more than qualified to be the Heir’s new Protector. It would have been the responsible thing to take Gunther off the list, regardless of what the Pledge said in his defense.

He was certainly starting to understand how Zorren could get the chalet’s access codes. Maybe there wasn’t a traitor so much as straight up incompetence in security that had allowed Zorren to get his hands on the codes. It certainly justified Markus’s decision to not reveal himself, or his plan to Command.

“Of course he said that,” Markus replied. “Every Pledge on the active list wants to be the Heir of the Empire’s Protector. Some for more nefarious reasons than others. Yet another reason to take Adar away from all that until true intentions can be discovered and those responsible for the attack on the chalet are found out.”

Dexter gave Markus an incredulous look. “And you just decided all by yourself that you were going to make those decisions for the Heir without even getting Command involved?”

“You know as well as I do that someone in Command helped the attacker get the codes to shut the chalet down. Until I know who it is, no one in this building is trustworthy. For all I know, it was you that provided the codes.”

Dexter sat back in his chair and shook his head firmly. “And who made you his Protector? Which you have no business even playing at since you got taken off the active list.”

Markus shrugged. “I don’t claim to be anything, but an old friend to the Prince. I acted on his behalf, because no one else seemed to be doing a very good job of it, and I’m only doing what my father wanted me to do. To come back and keep an eye on him.” As soon as he said it, Markus knew it was the wrong thing to say.

Dexter gave a slow smile like he’d caught Markus in trap, because he had. “Yes, we commed King Nador as soon as we had you in custody. Would you like to know what he said?”

Oh, Markus was quite certain he knew what his father had to say on the matter. Yes, the man had finally fulfilled a twenty year promise, but his father also would have wanted Markus to work within the chain of command. The fact that Markus hadn’t would have angered him greatly, and Markus had to admit that it might have been more than a small reason why he’d not gone groveling to Command as soon as his boots touched down on Sora X like everyone had expected him to do. Old habits and all that.

“No?” The Captain asked with that slow smile becoming wider, which spoke a volume of words in just that small act.

And here it came. What Markus had nicknamed the hamstring. It was the most effective tool an interrogator could use, and Markus had perfected it during his time at the College. So naturally, he had been expecting it since the interrogation had started, which he had just lead Dexter directly into. Oh well, best to stop messing around and get it over with then.

“He said,” Dexter continued with a decided edge of gloating in his voice, “that if you weren’t willing to cooperate and give up the Heir’s location that we were to lock you up in a cell and keep you there until one of his representatives could come and interrogate you. He didn’t seem very happy at all with the way you’ve handled things. Perhaps it won’t just be College expulsion and the Emperor you will have to worry about?”

Captain Dexter leaned across the table and locked eyes with Markus as he brought the hamstring to its peak. “So you see Nador, things aren’t looking well for you. I’m going to give you just one chance to come clean and tell us where the Heir is. If we recover him and he’s not come to any harm, the College may at least reconsider your expulsion. I can’t claim any safe harbor from the Emperor or your father, but I am sure they will be grateful, at least, for your intentions of attempting to keep the Heir safe, even if your execution of it was extreme.”

And there was the finish. Wrap the threat in a blanket of good will that couldn’t possibly be refused. Sure things might look bad, but they don’t have to be. Help us and we help you. How could anyone possibly refuse such an offer? Which, of course, most couldn’t. It was as good as a knock out punch in a fight, and ergo, the hamstring.

Markus had several graphic descriptions running through his mind of where Command could shove their offer to. But he had no intention on playing Dexter’s little game, or to even let the Captain know what Markus thought about his halfway decent use of the hamstring. It might have worked on someone other than himself. Maybe.

“Sometimes the only choices you have are the extreme ones, especially when going up against someone like Zorren Zahn,” Markus responded quietly.

Dexter sat there a moment clearly not happy that Markus had evaded the trap set before him, but eventually he spoke with another attempt to persuade Markus by agreeing with him. “We are well aware that he might be the one behind the attacks and we are investigating that.”

Markus laughed. “Well, while you are investigating, Zorren will be planning and executing his next attack. I simply acted before he could.”

Dexter shook his head. “And what? You plan on keeping the Prince in hiding until the investigation is wrapped up? That could take weeks.”

Markus shrugged. “It takes as long as it takes.”

Dexter leaned forward again as if that simple action could convince Markus of his sincerity. “We are not your enemy, Nador. We want the same thing.”

This time it was Markus’s turn to shake his head. “Do we, though? Convince me you aren’t the one who gave the attacker the code to the chalet’s power grid.”

Anger flared in the other man’s features. “I’m trying to help you.”

A part of Markus really was grateful for Dexter’s words. He could hear the sincerity in them, and for a moment, it almost convinced Markus that the Captain wasn’t the traitor. That he really was trying to help Markus, and even Adar. But if Dexter wasn’t in on the attack against Adar, there was still a leak in Command. Markus knew that this entire conversation was being recorded, and maybe even being viewed live right now by the higher ups. Until the traitor was discovered, no one at the College was trustworthy.

Markus had let this interview go on long enough. This had always just been a means to an end. Time to wrap things up.

“I don’t need your help,” Markus replied. “And as far as I’m concerned, Adar is perfectly safe where he is, and until I’m convinced that you can do the same, he’s staying put. And that is that, so go ahead and lock me up. You won’t get his location from me.”

The anger grew to cause the man’s face to turn a rather bright shade of red. “You are making a mistake. You will be ex-”

Markus didn’t even let him finish. “Expel me already. Give me the official kick in the ass. If it means keeping my friend safe, I’m very okay with that.”

Captain Dexter blinked at him as if what Markus had said was taking a long time to truly settle in. At last it finally did, because a moment later, the Captain bolted out his chair and marched across the room to palm the door open. He stuck his head out the door and barked at whoever was guarding the door.

“Lock him up!” He didn’t even look Markus’s way as he stormed out of the interrogation room.

Markus smirked. His little dance with Dexter had been fun while it lasted, but this interrogation was only ever going to end one way. Now that he’d finally got what he wanted, Markus sagged a little in his chair. He was tired. It had been a long day, and things were only going to get more intense from here. He could use a few hours of sleep.

His guards came into the room, yanked him from his chair and marched him down the small hallway to a holding cell. Markus stepped inside and a guard removed the binding on his wrists. The door closed sharply behind him, leaving Markus in a tiny eight by eight room with only a toilet and a cot that had seen better days. He immediately collapsed on the cot and settled down for a nap. The real fun would start soon, and he wanted to make sure he was rested up to meet it head on.